Gifts

To God is the glory now and forever more_, Amen!

If it is the goodness of God that leads a man unto repentance, what can we do to assist; I suppose an accurate answer would be nothing in itself for God would achieve whatever he sets out to do. However if we now belong to Him and are numbered amongst the saints because of what Christ achieved on our behalf I would beg to pose a more accurate reality.

Because of one man’s obedience those who have now been saved have the privilege of approaching this awesome God no differently to a son approaching his worldly father, in fact even more than that, for God is greater than any man. With this thought in place, let us view our requests as something well thought through and I don’t necessarily mean with time allocation but discernment of the Spirit of God must be key; understanding the merits of each request. And once we have decided what should be prayed, we must believe God to come through for us.

Hopefully we would eventually learn to process the reasons for any given prayer, correcting our application in these areas of our lives. How often have we been asked to pray for the enemies of God without emphasizing who we are praying too? Daniel was very accurate when he was asked by the king to interpret his dream. “To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter."” (Daniel 2:23) Observe: - When we are asked to pray for someone in need, it warrants a perfect opportunity to present the gospel with accuracy, we must be specific and point people to Christ as an out for their sin, remembering that God has given all an opportunity to embrace Christ, mankind’s life-line! It would be a wasted opportunity if we did not specify the God we pray to, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the same God who sent his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to die for sinners. What benefit and glory do we bring to God if we are asked to pray for something and we then do not pay God due benevolence? Seeing that we are well taught that if we ask anything in accordance with God’s will it will come to pass, we must therefore be sure to exalt His name and once that has been established we must understand God’s will in any given situation.

How do we achieve this?

Suppositions and opinions will remain exactly that; we must look to God’s Word to find a resolution. In the context of the gospel, signs and wonders must follow, why? Because all authority belongs to the Lord Jesus, and that has been sealed by God as we witnessed Christ’s resurrection even in our lives as we now walk in newness of life. I suppose many men claim these miracles; lying signs and wonders prevalent on so many corners and in the name of Christianity. Nevertheless of this I am persuaded that when God moves there is no mistaking the miracle. It will always be grand! Therefore if we look for any gift of signs and wonders, words of knowledge, prophecy and the like it must operate on the back of our gospel presentation, we must not settle for anything less than grandiose manifestations bringing glory to God and not to men but yet changing lives and affecting mankind under the gospel’s power.

Faith a key ingredient but never independent of the will of God! We must ask for understanding in these areas of our lives and this is how it must be done; “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8)  

For us to understand God’s character it would be good for us to spend more time in His Word. This is where He has chosen to reveal the secrets of His heart to all who would dare to seek them out, praise His name now and forever more Amen and Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone